Herschel G. Harris, M. D. Biography This biography appears on pages 734-737 in "History of Dakota Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. V (1915) and was scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net. This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit organizations for their private use. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm HERSCHEL G. HARRIS, M. D. Dr. Herschel G. Harris, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Wilmot, was born at Assumption, Christian county, Illinois, January 3, 1877, a son of Nelson and Margaret (Gordon) Harris. The father's birth occurred near Vincennes, Indiana, in 1846, while the mother was born in that state in 1848. They were married in Shelby county, Illinois, Mr. Harris having removed to Illinois when a youth of fifteen years. He devoted his life to farming, following that occupation in Illinois until 1910, when he came to South Dakota, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring May 12, 1914. His widow survives. They were the parents of eight children: Herschel G.; Grace, the wife of Orin C. Humphrey, a resident farmer of Illinois; Charles, a farmer of South Dakota; Lottie, who died in September, 1914; Siegel, living on a farm in South Dakota; Carl, who has just graduated from Rush Medical College of Chicago and has entered upon hospital work in St. Paul; Rose, who is engaged in the millinery business in Wilmot; and Emmett, who is employed by his brother, Herschel. Mr. Harris was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which his widow still belongs. In the work of the church he was very active, serving as deacon for a number of years, and did all in his power to advance the growth of the church and extend its influence. His political views were in accord with the principles of the democratic party, but he did not seek nor desire public office. He possessed many sterling traits of character so that his demise was the occasion of deep regret to his large circle of friends. Dr. Harris pursued a high-school education in his native town, being graduated with the class of 1899. Having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work, he then entered the Harvey Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1903. He pursued post-graduate work in the American Medical College the following year and became an interne in the Cook County Hospital at Chicago, where he remained for a year, his service there being most valuable, for there is no wider experience to be gained than is secured in hospital practice. In 1907 the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery conferred upon him an honorary degree. He practices according to the teachings of both the eclectic and allopathic schools. In a word, he selects that which is best for his patients and is most conscientious and careful in the discharge of his professional duties. In 1906 he came to Wilmot, where he has since practiced, and in 1912 he took over a hospital, which is one of the most complete in the state. It contains nine beds and he has a regular graduate nurse in charge and employs two other regular nurses. His hospital is not confined merely to surgical work, for he also takes patients who are to be treated medicinally. He has always had a very large patronage and has a considerable practice outside of his hospital work. He likewise owns a nice farm in Roberts county and is one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of his community, a position to which he has worked upward from comparatively nothing. In 1909 Dr. Harris was married to Miss Alice Jones, a daughter of S. C. Jones. a pioneer settler of South Dakota, and now a druggist of Wilmot. They have three children, Mary Margaret, born in 1911;Gwyneth, born in 1919; and Florence Roberta, born in 1915. Fraternally Dr. Harris is connected with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias. In politics he is independent, while his connection along strictly professional lines is with the County Medical Society, the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He devotes all of his time to his large practice and his hospital work and has made an enviable reputation as one of the skilled and successful physicians of his part of the state.